Endangered species stalling Rialto development

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, is seeking to remove two animal species from protection under the Endangered Species Act, which he said is stalling the development of more than 8,000 residential units in Lytle Creek. Such a move would "expand the tax base of Rialto dramatically, and cause incalculable economic growth for the city and surrounding regions," Baca wrote in a letter to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on Tuesday. Ron Pharris, the developer of the Lytle Creek Ranch project, said last week his firm could no longer support its money-losing El Rancho Verde Golf Club and wage a legal war with environmentalists opposed to Lytle Creek Ranch. For those reasons, Pharris - chairman of Lytle Creek Development - told staffers and golfers last week the golf club would be closed on Aug. 17. Baca's letter to Salazar comes at a time when plants, animals and insects on the Endangered Species list are in the midst of a five-year review to see if they should still be included on the list, Baca said. In the letter to Salazar, Baca wrote that Pharris' company has been "especially" affected by the continued listing of the Southwestern Willow Fly Catcher - a species of bird - and the San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat...more